Israeli forces, enabled by the lack of consequences for its genocide in Gaza, are repeating identical patterns in Lebanon and tearing apart the rules of international law.
Israeli forces using Gaza playbook in Lebanon, decimating water infrastructure – Oxfam
Oxfam fears that Israel’s military blueprint of attacking water infrastructure, used throughout its genocide in Gaza, is now being rolled out across parts of Lebanon.
Israeli forces are destroying water and sanitation infrastructure - including strikes near sites that were being rehabilitated after having been destroyed or damaged in the last assault - Oxfam analysis has found.
The Geneva conventions prohibit attacks on water installations and other objects that are critical for people to survive. Using deprivation of water as a method of warfare is outlawed. Any intentional deprivation of water or obstruction of aid may constitute a war crime.
In a span of four days in the first weeks of the latest escalation, Israel damaged at least eight critical water sources; including reservoirs, pipe networks and pumping stations that supplied water to more than 7,000 people in the Bekaa area alone.
In Southern Lebanon, where hundreds of thousands of people have been forced to flee their homes after Israel’s blanket mass forced displacement orders, Oxfam and partners are responsible for carrying out rehabilitation work at 19 important water facilities that provide clean water for up to 60,000 people.
Due to the intensity of the attacks in these areas, Oxfam teams cannot now safely access these sites to assess whether they too are now destroyed or damaged or ensure they are functioning properly so that people remaining in the villages have water. Long term impacts will also be devastating for communities who hope to return home.
The destruction of civilian infrastructure has not been limited to critical water facilities. Israel has also destroyed electricity networks and bridges, cutting off vital supplies and services for entire towns and villages.
"Israeli forces, enabled by the lack of consequences for its genocide in Gaza, are repeating identical patterns in Lebanon and tearing apart the rules of international law. Total impunity only leads to further injustices and war crimes – which innocent civilians pay the price for. Israel continues to attack emergency services personnel – including the murder of 12 medics in a single strike – aid workers, civilian infrastructure and people trying to survive."
— Jim Clarken, Oxfam Ireland CEO
“The full display of Israel’s water war crimes in Gaza are also in front of the world in Lebanon," Jim Clarken added. "Without repercussions, this will further lay down a precedent in all future conflicts and genocides that stopping clean water from being distributed and deliberately allowing the spread of disease is accepted. Water is now being used as a bargaining tool instead of a human right.”
During the 2024 escalation, Israel damaged more than 45 water networks in Lebanon, impacting almost half a million people, increasing the risk of disease outbreaks and contributing to the loss of livelihoods and green areas.
Given the ongoing lack of justice that has allowed Israel to consistently violate international law across the region, Oxfam is concerned these renewed attacks will see a sharp rise in the destruction of civilian infrastructure that is already occurring.
Despite the scale of destruction and mounting evidence of Israel’s atrocities in Gaza, Oxfam says the international community remains complicit in its silence and, in many cases, support to Israel as it continues to occupy and invade parts of Lebanon.
“There must be an immediate and unconditional ceasefire and end to this war. Israel must not be allowed to illegally occupy more land, deny more people of their basic rights, and abuse international law. The international community stood by in Gaza and watched Israel’s weaponisation of humanitarian aid and basic needs. The consequences to men, women and children were catastrophic. We must stop Lebanon from experiencing the same fate.”
In the policy brief, 'Water Under Fire: Supporting Lebanon’s Water Services Amid Escalating Conflict', Oxfam reached out to water establishments across three highly impacted regions in Lebanon after Israeli attacks.
In July 2024, Oxfam released the report 'Water War Crimes: How Israel has weaponised water in its military campaign in Gaza', presenting a detailed analysis of how the Government of Israel systematically weaponised water against the Palestinians in its latest assault on Gaza.
Before the latest escalation, Oxfam was rehabilitating eight water pumping systems in Mansouri, Nmairiyyeh, Srifa, Zaita, Ankoun, Allousiyyeh, Kfardounin, Jbal Al Botom. Three water networks in Tyre, Kherbit Silm, Khiam, four reservoirs in ater, Toura and Zebkin, and four water filtration systems in Mais Eljabal, Bintjbeil, Kfartebnit, Deir Knaoun Nahr.
"Israeli forces, enabled by the lack of consequences for its genocide in Gaza, are repeating identical patterns in Lebanon and tearing apart the rules of international law. Total impunity only leads to further injustices and war crimes – which innocent civilians pay the price for. Israel continues to attack emergency services personnel – including the murder of 12 medics in a single strike – aid workers, civilian infrastructure and people trying to survive."
